Investigations
CHOKING ON CHILD SEAT STYROFOAM
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE07038 - closed, opened 2007-07-17.
NHTSA investigation PE07038 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2007-07-17 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2007-11-01 - NHTSA updates that field whenever an Information Request goes out, a supplement is filed, or a status change is recorded in the public docket.
A Preliminary Evaluation like PE07038 is the entry point of the federal defect-investigation process. NHTSA engineers scan complaint databases, field reports, and manufacturer data to decide whether an Engineering Analysis is warranted, whether a voluntary recall is already sufficient, or whether the pattern does not rise to a defect finding.
Investigators summarized the matter as follows: "EVENFLO IS RECALLING CERTAIN TRIUMPH CONVERTIBLE CAR SEATS MANUFACTURED BEFORE NOVEMBER 2005. MODEL NUMBERS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL START WITH 264, 359 OR 389. THE NHTSA RECALL NUMBER IS 07C-008. SINCE 2003, ODI HAS RECEI..." Investigations are the early-warning layer of the federal auto-safety system, sitting upstream of formal recalls and defect orders. Whether this one closes without action or escalates into an Engineering Analysis, the full history stays in the ODI archive so researchers, litigators, and buyers can pull the paper trail at any time.
Investigation Summary
EVENFLO IS RECALLING CERTAIN TRIUMPH CONVERTIBLE CAR SEATS MANUFACTURED BEFORE NOVEMBER 2005. MODEL NUMBERS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL START WITH 264, 359 OR 389. THE NHTSA RECALL NUMBER IS 07C-008. SINCE 2003, ODI HAS RECEIVED 12 COMPLAINTS OF A CHOKING HAZARD INVOLVING THE SUBJECT CHILD SEATS. THE CHILDREN WERE ABLE TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE STYROFOAM UNDERNEATH THE SEAT CLOTH COVER AND BREAK OFF PIECES OF STYROFOAM. TEN (10) OF THE 12 COMPLAINANTS STATED THAT THE CHILD ALSO PLACED THE BROKEN STYROFOAM PIECES INTO THEIR MOUTHS; IN THREE CASES, THE CHILD WAS CHOKING AND IN ONE CASE THE CHILD WAS GAGGING. THE SUBJECT SEATS CONTAIN STYROFOAM PADS ON EACH SIDE OF THE SEAT'S PLASTIC SHELL. THE STYROFOAM IS BENEATH A REMOVABLE PADDED FABRIC COVER THAT ATTACHES TO THE SEAT WITH J-HOOKS. MOST SEATS PRODUCED BEFORE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 CONTAINED COVERS THAT ATTACHED TO THE SHELL USING 6 J-HOOKS. EVENFLO IS RECALLING ALL SEATS PRODUCED WITH 6 J-HOOKS. EVENFLO REPORTS THAT "UNITS BUILT AFTER OCTOBER 1, 2005 INCLUDE TWO ADDITIONAL MECHANICAL ATTACHMENTS [J-HOOKS] FOR THE CLOTH COVER AT THE APPROXIMATE LOCATION OF THE OCCUPANT'S THIGHS THAT RESTRICT ACCESS TO THE FOAM LINER." ODI FINDS THAT THE COMPLAINT RATE FOR THE 8 J-HOOK FABRIC COVER IS ONE-EIGHTH THAT OF THE 6 J-HOOK FABRIC COVER. THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
About This Investigation Type
A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first phase of NHTSA's investigation process. It is opened when the agency identifies a potential safety defect pattern, usually triggered by consumer complaints, manufacturer reports, or field monitoring. During a PE, NHTSA gathers information to determine whether a formal engineering analysis is warranted.
Data from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Cross-references: NHTSA recall campaign API and NHTSA FARS where fatality records overlap. PlainCars does not rate or recommend vehicles. about how PlainCars sources NHTSA data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.